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Amateur Newspapers

Vincent Golden Curator of Newspapers and Periodicals at the American Antiquarian Society

Various source media, Amateur Newspapers from the American Antiquarian Society

EMPOWER™ RESEARCH In the history of printing in America, a little-known the essential characteristic of the amateur journalist. genre is the amateur newspaper. Hidden in collections In our acceptation of the term the idea of youth is in various institutions, and often uncataloged, unquestionably implied. An amateur journalist I would researchers miss using them. Literary scholars define as a young person who pursues literature, not as overlook the stories and poems published in these a profession, but for the pleasure of so doing.” 2 And ephemeral productions. Those studying children’s finally Will L. Wright, editor of the Egyptian Star of Cairo, books look at publications written for children but miss IL wrote, “The true objects of amateur journalism are to these items written by children. Finally, many cultivate a taste for pure and wholesome literature, to thousands of these issues are now readily accessible to broaden the intellectual powers, to give one a practical those that previously didn’t realize what they were knowledge of the world, and to teach one to think and missing. act for himself.” 3 It is the act more of intellectual and emotional drive rather than financial gain that drove

them. There was something visceral about seeing your What is an amateur newspaper? If you saw a pile of ideas coming off the press, inked on paper, then them on a table the first thing you would probably sharing it with someone else. notice is that many of them are small. A majority of them are printed on sheets of paper between the size of a half to a full sheet of notepaper. Some are as small Before 1869 amateur newspapers were much more as two inches tall. Others are as large as a modern scarce. Before the invention of a hobby table-top tabloid paper. But size does not determine the printer, the amateur journalist had to resort to one of designation. Nor is it the content, typography, or the three methods to get their publication printed. They quality of the printing. It is not a physical feature. could print it themselves if they had access to a print Intent is the guiding factor. An amateur newspaper is a shop. A rare few managed to build their own printing serial publication produced for the love of expression press. Others had to pay a print shop to set the type rather than for profit. That is a basic definition. Others and print off the copies. Yet despite these obstacles a who actually published amateur newspapers gave number of titles were issued during the first seven better descriptions. Finlay Grant, who published the decades of the nineteenth century. Because there is no Boys’ Folio in Nova Scotia, wrote, “Amateur journalism bibliography or directory of these early productions, it is an institution of youth who edit, publish, print or is unknown how many were published, but every so contribute to miniature journals as a means of self- often new titles are uncovered. improvement, as a pleasing pastime, and for the advancement of their own peculiar institutions.”1 James M. Beck, another amateur journalist wrote, “The love of The Thespian Mirror is considered the first amateur literature, and not the love of lucre, is the sine qua non, newspaper in America. It was edited by John Howard

1 Spencer, Truman J. The History of Amateur Journalism (New York: The 2 Spencer, p. 3. Fossils, Inc, 1957), p. 3. 3 Spencer, p. 3

Payne when he was thirteen years old. It was published 1,000 subscribers. After four years of work, she finally in New York, and the first issue was dated Dec. 28, ended the paper with the issue of Apr. 30, 1866. 1805. Using the print shop of Wouthwick and

Hardcastle, he wrote and edited this 8-page periodical on theatrical matters (just the third theatrical magazine The tip over point for amateur printing came in 1867 in this country), issuing it on a weekly basis for thirteen when a tabletop hobby press was patented and issues ending Mar. 22, 1806. manufactured for the public. In a very short time a variety of manufacturers were selling hobby presses to

amateur printers and small shops across the country. One of the most notable early amateur newspapers is These were very simple to use. Power was created by the Penfield Extra. It was published by Nellie Williams, the mere pulling of a lever that created pressure a girl of twelve years of age. She learned how to print between paper and inked type. First the type would be in a small shop owned by her brother in Penfield, a locked in a metal frame called a chase and mounted in small suburb of Rochester, NY. Unfortunately he was the press. Facing it was a flat surface with thin strips killed in the Civil War. Using his shop, Nellie of metal called grippers. These held the paper down established this publication, writing it herself, setting and in a specific position. For the simplest (and the type, and printing it using her brother’s equipment. cheapest) presses, the type would be inked by hand, the The first issue came out December 28, 1861 and was paper put in place and the handle pulled down closing issued weekly through Apr. 30, 1866. The subtitle was the press and pushing together the type and paper. “Little Nellie’s Little Paper” and it attracted much Reversing the lever would open it up and the printed notice from the professional press around the country. sheet of paper removed. For the larger and more The Paterson Daily Register (NJ) of May 20, 1862 printed complex presses, there would be a disc to hold ink and a review of this paper stating, “We have seen many a rollers. Each pull of the lever would cause two things pretentious weekly, edited and printed by men of large to happen. Pulling the handle in one direction would experience which in point of typography are not so good open the press, causing the rollers (covered in ink) to as little Nellie’s.” The Universal Clothes Wringer, a roll over the type and apply ink to the raised surfaces. product used for washing clothes even cited Little Meanwhile with the press open, the printer could Nellie’s review of it in its advertisements in newspapers remove the freshly printed sheet of paper and put in a such as The World. 4 The aim of Miss Williams was to new one. Pushing the lever in the other direction would create a newspaper in as professional manner as cause the rollers to move out of the way and over the possible. Besides writing and editing, she sold inking disc picking up fresh ink onto the rollers. At the advertisements, created exchanges with other same time the press would close up pressing the paper newspapers, sold subscriptions, and worked hard to against the freshly inked type; one motion for printing maintain deadlines. At its height, she claimed over and recharging the rollers, the other motion for inking the type and replacing the paper. Some of the high end

4 The World (New York, NY), Sept. 24, 1864, p. 8.

presses had a foot treadle and flywheel where the printed directories of amateur newspapers for their printer could develop a rhythm of taking out one piece region or guides to the hobby. 6 of paper and inserting a new one allowing them to print hundreds of pieces in an hour (but watch the fingers!). The world of amateur newspapers exploded within the

first year of availability of the hobby printing press, and The Kelsey Press Company (1872-1990) was one of the soon boys and girls around the country were issuing largest and longest-lived manufacturers. The founder, newspapers from their homes. Besides selling these William Kelsey (1851-1932) used a business model papers locally, networks of exchanges soon sprang up similar to one you see today with ink-jet printers. He and these young publishers were exchanging their sold his presses at near cost. Kelsey realized the papers with each other. This led to regional and finally profits were to be made in selling the customer type, a national organization. After a few early name paper, ink, illustration blocks and any other changes, it settled on the National Amateur Press consumables that would be needed over and over. Association, and the decision was made to hold an annual national convention.7 One of the more ambitious

efforts of a regional organization was in 1873 when the In the nineteenth century, a teenager could order a New York Amateur Press Association passed a small press for printing cards 2 ¼” x 3 ¼” for $3, or resolution and helped raise money to purchase move up to paying $90 for a deluxe rotary jobber with equipment and send two representatives to the World’s three inking rollers and flywheel for printing a sheet of Exposition in Vienna. Their mission was to display

5 paper 8 ¼” x 12 ½”. examples of amateur newspapers published in this

country and to issue a paper during the exposition. Despite the difficulties and the suspicions of the local While the emphasis was on “amateur”, the promotional authorities, they managed to issue a paper until the material for the presses also touted the money that end. 8 could be made with their equipment. The youth could make spare pocket money selling business cards, letterhead, invitations, and other short-run ephemeral Once they took root, there was no stopping the output printing to businessmen and individuals in the of amateur newspapers from all over the country. By community thereby supporting their hobby. Some went the turn of the century, amateur printers had put out so far as to print their own books. Others compiled and newspapers in all of the existing states, some territories and also across Canada. Perusing the collection at the American Antiquarian Society shows

5 Harris, Elizabeth. Personal Impressions. The small printing press in 7 See the Amateur Journalists’ Companion. Frank Cropper, editor nineteenth-century America (Boston: David R. Godine, 2004). (Louisville, KY: Frank Cropper, 1873), pp. 7-17. 6 An excellent example is Richard Zerbe’s A Guide to Amateurdom: Being 8 Spencer, pp. 22-25. a complete and accurate synopsis of amateurdom and its manifold phases (Cincinnati: Am. Book Publishing Co. [1883]).

how varied the field was. Both boys and girls were newspapers are the voice of young Americans of the caught up in the hobby. Varieties abound in size, quality period. Without them printing their own newspapers, of printing, mastheads, illustrations, and content. these writings would not have been preserved for Some kids focused on specific subjects such as researchers today. We would mostly have texts written philately or puzzles. Many wrote reviews of other by adults for them. Amateur newspapers are the amateur newspapers they had received. Others wrote authentic writings of the younger generation of the poetry or short stories. Many issues were adorned with nineteenth century. In one sense, the papers are like jokes. One notable amateur paper, Le Bijou published the blogs of today, but in a different format. Today they in Cincinnati between 1878 and 1880 was published by have “likes” and “friends”. Back then they had Herbert A. Clark (ca. 1860 – ca. 1924). He was a great- subscribers and exchanges. Each one developed their grandson of William Clark (leader of the Lewis and own networks of distribution to reach an audience. Clark expedition) and was one of the first African-

Americans to publish an amateur newspaper. He was well-respected among the Northern members of the While the American Antiquarian Society has had national organization, but when elected third vice- nineteenth-century amateur newspapers as part of its president, many of the Southern members left the collection for decades, here is a new opportunity for the organization and started their own. Clark’s publication twenty-first century. A full-text digital database of is filled with articles advocating civil rights. these publications first makes people aware they exist and second, provide easy access to the contents. The

printers of yesterday would be astonished and pleased Amateur newspapers gave many young people a focus how many new readers their works will have today. and an outlet for their creativity while also honing their organizational skills. It also gave them experience in printing, writing and journalism. Some of them went on to become writers, editors, or publishers when they became adults. They turned grass-roots journalism into a career. While their initial outputs were amateurish as the category of their production implies, it gave them the experience and confidence to explore the possibilities of turning professional.

So why read them today? The content is not monumental reporting of events. The poetry is not ground breaking. Some issues are filled only with material referencing other amateurs. Amateur

CITATION

Golden, Vincent: “Amateur Newspapers.” Amateur Newspapers from the American Antiquarian Society: Cengage Learning, 2018

© Cengage Learning 2018

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